Coupler operating device



m 12, 1930. G. G. GILPIN 1,772,662

COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed May 12, 1928 "jj zuenior- Garth. 6;] jn/ 25 eye and the link.

' Patented Aug. 12', 1930 i UNIT D: mm; 1'

GARTH- G. GILPIN, or RIVERSIDE," ILLInoIs, AssI'GN'oi'z mo UNION ei n rnoneces COMPANY, or CHICAGO; ILLINOIS, agco 'romrrm r nmwami l COUPLER ormurae mwqe Applicationv "filed? May 12,

An object of theinvention is to support the inner end of the revoluble rod of a coupler operating devicesolely upon the coupler so that the coupler headinay move -laterallyandlongitudinally of the car in service without affecting the relation of the component parts of the-coupler operating device, whereby the effective force transmitted by the revolutionof the operating rod to the coupler lock lifter is neither increased or decreased by the service movements of the coupler.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a typical application of the device to a car coupler.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a planviewof 1 showingalso apart of the car.

v Fig. 4 shows the relation of the parts of the operating device when the lock litter of the coupler is in raised position.

Fig. 5 shows the relation" of the partsof the operating device whenthe coupler is in look set position.

F ig. 6 shows the relation'of the lock, lifter The standard vertical plane coupler (known as A. R; A. type) has a knuckle 2 pivoted to the coupler 'headB and provided with a tail behind which the lock is placed.

' 30 The lock liftert protrudesthrough and above the coupler head and is provided with a horizontally positioned eye. This lock lifter eye is in diameter and its axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal center of the car.

i 5 This. size and position has been determined by the A. R. A. and is standard for the ma jority of couplers now in service. The lock litter is arranged to move in substantlally a vertical plane to operate the parts within the 4o. coupler head, such operation consisting of unlocking the knuckle, throwing the knuckle and assuming a lock set position.

The preferred form of the device com prises an operating rod 6 revolubly mounted in a bracket 7 positioned adjacent the side of the car and having a handle 8 or other means to revolve it. The inner endof this rod rests upon the coupler so that as the rod is revolved it bears and fulcrumssolely upon the coupler (at 9). A preferably channeled 1928. 1 s r'ia'ltnd. 277,368.

link 10 straddles the upper portion "o'fftlief lock lifterland is secured-thereto bya hori zontal 11 forming apivotal"connection'i therewith. The" flanges; Off the channeled? link lo oselyfit'ag inst the side walls of'the",

locklitteragto prevent thelihk from moving laterally out of the verticalplane the web of the channel engages thejback port-ion of the'loicle li fterto'prevent the'linkswinging, V

backwardl'y" out'of alignmentwith the locki lifter." Thisjarrangement mayj'becall e'd, a kneeconn ctioni and" A v prevents the cramps;

inggof'the deviceg' j t The. :operatingj rodt refenably bears 'onfthie coupler behilid the lock lifter andis eXteiidfv ed and formed so that a portion 12' thereof is in front of the lock lifter andast rutlfilis I pivot'ally connectedtoithis portion 12 of the operating jrod' and"tofthe upper portion of the linklO sofas to form'a flexible connection. therebetwee'nf; This strut 13 preferab1yflias an elbfigatedbearingl i upon theoperat g, rodtoassist in'ret'aining the component-parts of the device ini'a substantiallyvertic'al plane so "as to prevent them from collapsing;

ing rdd 6 is revolved which raises the outer portion 12 thereof and through the medium of the strut 13 raisesth'e link-10 andpulls? the locklifter 4 up withit, as shown'fin F1g. 4; so

parts withn thecouplen and the. operating. 35;

rod '6 returns to its normal position nandfthe hnk 10 and strut 13 assume the positions shown,

" The portion 1j20f the operatingjrod which' is positioned in front ofthe locklifter prel ea.

vents the operating rod from being; revolved too far, as shown in'th'is-Fig; 4; furthermore;

V the kneeconn'ection' referredto above )Q prje ventsthe' link 10 from fallingbackward.

The relatioh'of the associated parts is such} Q5.

whenthehandle 8 of the operatingrodi ls'freleasedthe rod' wi'll return. to its normal position by gravity. The operating rod fisl' bent; asshown in Eig.;"3 so that the, preponv deranceof wei'ght willbe on"theoutsideiot; 10(

. 5. In the operation ofthe device the'oper afl a line drawn between the two supporting bearings (7 and 9) which causes a tendency for the handle to fall into substantially ver tical position and the inner end of the operating rod to return to the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and. 5.

I prefer to have the crank arm in substantially a horizontal position when the device is in normal position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Some diflicult has been experienced by the wearing of t e parts within the coupler permitting the lock lifter to dro to position in which it becomes wedged, ma ing it diflicult(and in extreme cases impossible) to raise the lock lifter. I overcome this difficulty by extending the link 10 downwardly to rest upon the coupler head thereby holdin the lock lifter up in its desired position. (fie Fig. 6.) Flanges 16 may be provided on the link to increase its bearing area and prevent the link from falling into the hole in the coupler head.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope. of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claimt. a I V 1. A devicefor operating a car coupler comprising a coupler lock lifter, a revoluble operating rod fulcruming upon the coupler, said rod provided with a crank arm, a link having a knee connection with the lock lifter and with its upper end above the crank arm,

and a strut'pivotally connected to the operating rod crank arm and to the upper part of the link.

' 2. A device for operating a car coupler comprising a coupler lock lifter, a revoluble operating rod fulcruming upon the coupler behind the lock lifter, said rod provided with a crank arm having a portion thereof in front of the lock lifter, a link having a knee connection with the lock lifter and with its upper end above the crank arm, and a strut pivotally connected to the said portion of the operating rod crank arm and to the upper part of the link.

3. A device for operating a car coupler comprising a coupler lock lifter, a revoluble operating rod fulcruming upon the, coupler, said rod provided with a crank arm, a channeled link having aknee connection with the lock lifter and with its upper end above the a crank arm, said link straddling said lock lifter and connected thereto so as to retain them in a substantially vertical plane, and a strut pivotally connected to the operating rod crank arm and to the upper part of the link.

4. device for operating a car coupler comprising a coupled lock lifter, a revoluble operating rod fulcruming upon the coupler,

opera-tin rod fulcruming upon the coupler behind t e lock lifter, said rod provided with a crank arm having a portion thereof in front of the lock lifter, a link having a knee connection with the lock lifter and with its upper end above the crank arm, and a strut pivotally connected to the said portion of the operatin rod crank arm and to the upper part of t e link, said strut having an elongated bearing upon said portion to retain the component parts of the device in a substantially vertical plane.

' GARTH G. GILPIN.

ion 

